Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMFPB’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘BKDAMFPB’, characterized by its broadly upright and sturdy plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; and large semi-double inflorescences with dark red purple and light purple bi-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKDAMFPB’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKDAMFPB’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new sturdy container Dahlia plants that have a freely basal branching habit, and large inflorescences with attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Dahlia plant originated from an open-pollination in August, 2014 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Dahlia hybrida identified as code number 4002756, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Dahlia hybrida as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in December, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since March, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKDAMFPB’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKDAMFPB’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright and sturdy plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Large semi-double inflorescences with dark red purple and         light purple bi-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia are smaller than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent         selection have lighter red purple-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia hybrida ‘Fidahnewy’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,257. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ from plants of ‘Fidahnewy’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia are larger than         inflorescences of plants of ‘Fidahnewy’.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia have more ray         florets than inflorescences of plants of ‘Fidahnewy’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKDAMFPB’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical inflorescences of ‘BKDAMFPB’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 19° C. Plants were pinched one time and were nine weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. To induce inflorescence initiation and development, plants were grown under short nyctoperiod (long day) conditions. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘BKDAMFPB’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia             hybrida identified as code number 4002756, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Dahlia             hybrida, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at             temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days             at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 23 days             at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             creamy white to light brown in color, actual color of the             roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizers, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots; tuber development has not been observed on plants of             the new Dahlia.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and mounding plant             form; overall plant shape, flattened globular; sturdy plant             habit; freely basal branching habit with about eight primary             branches developing per plant; inflorescences held above the             foliar plane on strong peduncles; bushy and dense growth             habit; pinching is not required but will improve branching             habit; moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 22.7             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 25             cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 38.9 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 12.3 cm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Internode length: About 1.8 cm. Aspect: Primary             branches are mostly erect; secondary branches, about 40°             from primary branch axis. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color,             developing: Close to 143A. Color, developed: Close to 143A. -   Leaf & leaflet description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves opposite and compound with three or five             leaflets.         -   Length, leaf.—About 11.5 cm.         -   Width, leaf.—About 12.5 cm.         -   Length, terminal leaflets.—About 8.4 cm.         -   Width, terminal leaflets.—About 4.8 cm.         -   Length, lateral leaflets.—About 6.5 cm.         -   Width, lateral leaflets.—About 3.5 cm.         -   Shape, leaves.—Ovate.         -   Shape, leaflets.—Ovate.         -   Apex, leaflets.—Apiculate.         -   Base, leaflets.—Attenuate.         -   Margin, leaflets.—Coarsely serrate.         -   Venation pattern, leaflets.—Pinnate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface, leaflets.—Smooth,             sparsely pubescent; slightly velvety; slightly glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface, leaflets.—Smooth,             sparsely pubescent; slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to 143A.             Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to between 143B             and 146B. Fully expanded leaflets, upper surface: Close to             between NN137A and 139A; venation, close to 143B. Fully             expanded leaflets, lower surface: Close to 191A; venation,             close to 146A.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 3.5 mm. Height:             About 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A tinged with             close to 197A. Color, lower surface: Close to 144A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Semi-double inflorescence form             with ray and disc florets forming acropetally on a             receptacle; inflorescences positioned above and beyond the             foliar plane on strong peduncles; inflorescences face mostly             upright to slightly outwardly; freely flowering habit with             about 15 developing and fully developed inflorescences per             plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response and flowering period.—Early flowering             habit, plants begin flowering about 60 days after planting;             plants flower continuously during the autumn into the winter             in The Netherlands.         -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about ten days on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About             1.2 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to N144A.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 8.5 cm. Depth (height):             About 5.4 cm. Disc diameter: About 1.6 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145B to 145C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 100 arranged in about five whorls. Length: About             3.5 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Broadly obovate. Apex:             Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect: Upright to             roughly horizontal and eventually downward; moderately to             strongly concave. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color: When             opening, upper surface: Close to 68A; towards the apex,             close to 69C to 69D. When opening, lower surface: Close to             75D; towards the margins, close to 75B. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to between 60B and 61B; towards the apex,             close to 75C; venation, same as lamina colors; colors do not             change with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close             to 63B to 63C and 64B; venation, close to 69C; colors do not             change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 80 massed at the center of the inflorescence in about             five spiral whorls. Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated; apices, acute. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex and             mid-section: Close to 11D. Base: Close to 150D. Color, fully             opened, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 13B to 13C.             Mid-section: Close to 13D. Base: Close to 150D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About eight arranged in a single whorl. Length: About             1.3 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Bluntly             acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN137B.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 10.2 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3 mm. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Color: Close to between 144A and 146B; distally, tinged with             close to 197A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets             only: Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:             About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to 157A. Anther shape:             Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 4 mm. Anther color:             Close to 16C. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close             to 23A. Gynoecium, present on disc florets only: Quantity             per floret: One. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Style length:             About 6 mm. Style color: Close to 150D. Stigma diameter:             About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft. Stigma color: Close to 21A.             Ovary color: Close to 157D. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Dahlia to date. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia     plants to date. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dahlia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMFPB’ as illustrated and described. 